But it was an assumed weight, based on an average national weight, which was not updated regularly and not specifically relevant to Samoa.

In effect airfares were based on incorrect information.

Apart from the safety aspects of this there was the issue of fairness since lighter passengers subsidised the fare of heavier ones.

As a pilot himself Leaupepe knows what Langton has said to be true: “Airlines sell weight not seats.”

Samoa Air knows exactly the weight their planes carry and so travel with them is safer, said Leaupepe.

He and Langton came to an arrangement.

For the morbidly obese Samoa Air cuts off $3 from their fare for every kilo they lose under the weight loss challenge; for the obese it’s $2 for every kilo lost, for the obese it’s $1 for every kilo lost.

“It’s a way of joining our two businesses,” said Langton of the deal.

“He benefits by getting new business referred to him by my business,” said Leaupepe.